Business & human rights: Weekly Update - October 22, 2008

From the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre:

Weekly Update: Business & Human Rights Resource Centre - 22 Oct 2008

CLICK THIS LINK FOR ALL TOP STORIES added past 7 days / Principales noticias / Articles de premier plan:
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Categories/Topstories?date=2008/10/22

Español: ver abajo - Français : voir ci-dessous

* Items relating to the work of UN Special Representative John Ruggie:
- Ruggie presentation to Inter-American Commission on Human Rights
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/277176
- Policy Innovations (Carnegie Council) to host discussion with Ruggie on his work to date and proposed work plan going forward - New York, 28 Oct
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/171855
- Jus Semper critique of Ruggie's 2008 report on business & human rights, and Ruggie's response
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/139275

* USA: Lawsuit alleging Chevron's complicity in killing & wounding of protesters in Nigeria starts this week
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/967589

* Greenpeace praises Apple for efforts to reduce toxic materials in its products
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/524851

* US court awards $80 million to Cubans working in slave-like conditions for Curaçao Drydock Company in Netherlands Antilles
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/308663

* Apparel firm Cotton Traders pulls out of Burma following public boycott organised by Burma Campaign UK
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/828264

* Report accuses Assa Abloy of failing to respect intl. law by maintaining a factory in occupied Palestinian territory
- Assa Abloy says it will move its factory out of the settlement
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/394456

* Nike gives $3 million to World Bank programme to empower girls in poor countries
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/294155

* Brazilian Govt. rescue mission to release men, women & children from forced labour in agriculture - firsthand account by journalist accompanying mission
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/351850

* Ukraine: Commentary by Andrew Wilson of East Europe Foundation - economic crisis should not deter companies from social, environmental initiatives
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/155645

* Español: Corte de EE.UU. dictamina que astillero Curaçao Drydock Company deberá indemnizar a cubanos por trato inhumano
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/137635

* Español: Nike aporta $3 millones a programa del Banco Mundial para el empoderamiento económico de niñas y mujeres en países pobres
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/250907

* Español: Crítica de Jus Semper al informe de John Ruggie sobre empresas y derechos humanos de 2008
- respuesta de John Ruggie (en inglés)
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/309282

* Español: Colombia: Orgs. sociales denuncian industria de aceite de palma - líder campesino opuesto a la misma es asesinado
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/174269

* Français : Rapport d'enquête sur les conditions de travail chez des fabricants de produits de Disney en Chine, révélant des nombreux abus
- réponse de Disney (seulement disponible en anglais)
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/872773

* Français : Nike contribue 3 millions de dollars à une initiative de la Banque mondiale qui promeut les adolescentes dans les pays pauvres
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/492244

* Français : Emirats arabes unis : Reporters sans frontières s'inquiète pour la liberté d'expression sur Internet - SmartFilter & Etisalat impliqués
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/140996

* Français : Cote d'Ivoire : Lourdes réquisitions pour les employés d'entreprises locales au procès sur les déchets du cargo Probo Koala
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/821553

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Peter Julian, MP, on Corporate Accountability

This was passed on to me through Amnesty Canada's BHR listserv:

On December 10, 2007, I introduced a private member's bill to make
international standards of accountability applicable to grave humanrights
offenses committed by Canadians abroad. Bill C-492 would allow foreign
citizens to bring lawsuits against Canadian corporations or citizens in
Federal Court for violations of basic human rights committed outside of our
country. If my bill becomes law, corporations who abuse the human, labour,
or environmental rights of persons in other countries could face hefty
claims in Canadian courts for their illegal behaviour.

This is a continuing problem, which received extensive national attention in
2007 with the release of the Advisory Report from the National Roundtables
on Corporate Social Responsibility. The Report's recommendations to enhance
Canada's corporate social responsibility standards were inevitable, given
the disturbing accounts by roundtable participants of human-rights abuses
allegedly perpetrated by Canadian companies while operating overseas. Over
one year later, the federal government has yet to adopt the Advisory
Report's recommendations designed to prevent such injustice. The failure of
the Conservative government in Ottawa to take action on corporate
accountability is disturbing for a number of reasons.

Our legal system has failed to keep pace with the realities of globalized
commerce in the twenty-first century. As Canadian corporations moved beyond
our market to operate internationally, some of our corporations have engaged
in what I, together with Canadians, would consider detestable practices. For
example, Goldcorp Inc., one of the world's largest gold-mining companies,
headquartered in my own province of British Columbia, faces international
criticism for environmentally destructive mining practices that have
allegedly poisoned local water sources in Latin America. Canadian companies
would never dream of poisoning local Canadian water sources, because they
know that, if they ever did, they would face heavy legal penalties. Why
should we as Canadians take strong stand against corporations that pollute
Canadian water, and then turn around and give carte blanche to those same
corporations to take advantage of weak local governments and to pollute and
poison abroad? Our government washes its hands of these matters because it
claims it is helpless legally to prohibit the activities of corporations in
other sovereign countries. This absurd predicament allows international
human-rights violations to go on unabated.

How bad are the allegations against some Canadian corporations? You be the
judge. In 2001 the Presbyterian Church of Sudan, filed suit in U.S. Federal
Court against Talisman Energy Inc., a $12-billion company headquartered in
Calgary. Among other things, this suit alleged that Talisman aided the
Sudanese military in attacking local populations in an effort to depopulate
areas and allow for its oil exploration. The suit claimed that Talisman
conspired to commit genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. The
question for Canadian lawmakers is: Why did this suit have to be brought in
the U.S.?

The lawsuit against Talisman was made possible because of a unique American
statute known as the Alien Tort Claims Act. Similar to my proposed Bill
C-492, the Alien Tort Claims Act provides that noncitizens can bring a civil
action in U.S. district courts for an alleged violation of the law of
nations or a treaty of the United States. The fact that Sudanese villagers
had to use an American forum in order to hold a Canadian corporation
accountable for its alleged behaviour is a clear signal that there are
crucial mechanisms lacking in the Canadian legal system. In fact, as the
Talisman lawsuit itself points out, "there has never to date been a
successful lawsuit alleging a civil wrong grounded in an extraterritorial
violation of human rights" in Canada.

The proposal that governments can and should provide a forum for
enforcing basic standards of human decency when violations occur beyond the
confines of territorial borders is not a new concept. The international
community has long agreed that some wrongs are simply so offensive that
every state can prohibit these acts without regard to where and by whom they
are committed. In fact, according to Amnesty International, there are at
least 125 countries that permit extraterritorial criminal application of
their statutes, and many states also allow civil claims to be made in these
cases.

The Canadian government traditionally promotes itself as a defender of human
rights on the international stage. Canada has been at the forefront of the
creation of many human-rights institutions at the U.N. and elsewhere. In
2000, Canada became the first country in the world to incorporate the treaty
obligations establishing the International Criminal Court into its national
laws.

Yet, the previous Liberal government intervened in support of Talisman
before the U.S. courts, and Prime Minister Stephen Harper has not changed
the government's direction. This demonstrates a key problem with the present
system of enforcing international human-rights law in Canada. Criminal cases
on both the domestic and international levels require the cooperation and
action of government officials. All too frequently, political considerations
prevent criminal prosecutions of alleged violators from going forward.
Talisman may rest assured that the Harper government will not refer this
matter to the R.C.M.P., or any other competent legal authority, for a
criminal investigation into its activities in Sudan.

The creation of a legal regime that could hold corporations civilly liable
for acts committed outside Canadian boundaries would obviate the need of our
government to involve itself in "sensitive" international human-rights
cases. Bill C-492 will not require official government approval before cases
are launched, as the proposed statute allows individuals direct control over
initiating their own lawsuits. As a result, this bill will allow victims of
human-rights abuses to eliminate their dependence on states to raise these
matters on their behalf in court. Canada protects its own citizens from
abusive conduct by corporations because it has been deeply committed to the
inherent dignity of persons. It is hypocritical and antithetical to Canada's
international treaty obligations to allow Canadian corporations to go abroad
and violate the basic human rights of foreign nationals. Bill C-492 is an
important step to ending corporate impunity in this area of the law.

By Peter Julian, M.P.

Business & human rights: Weekly Update -- October 15, 2008

From the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre:

Weekly Update: Business & Human Rights Resource Centre - 15 Oct 2008

CLICK THIS LINK FOR ALL TOP STORIES added past 7 days / Principales noticias / Articles de premier plan:
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Categories/Topstories?date=2008/10/15

Español: ver abajo - Français : voir ci-dessous

* "Preliminary work plan" for the new, operational phase of UN Special Representative John Ruggie's mandate
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/359355

* So. Africa: Local leader claims Anglo Platinum plan to construct dam on community land will destroy cultural heritage
- Anglo Platinum's response
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/123456

* Rwanda: Dean's Beans owner reports on gender violence workshops supported by the company
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/864801

* Video "The real costs of gold mining: Goldcorp in Honduras" raises serious health & other concerns
- We invited Goldcorp to respond; it has not done so
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/469342

* Javier Vázquez alleges he was told not to apply for job at Emirates due to his age
- We invited Emirates to respond; it has not done so
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/385811

* China: 450 fall ill after drinking contaminated water - local officials blame industrial waste from Jinhai Metallurgy Chemical
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/292060

* Guinea: Protesters halt Rusal trains, complaining company violates agreement on local development, environment - govt. security forces open fire; 2 killed, scores injured
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/747086

* Major drug firms including Abbott, Boehringer Ingelheim, Glaxo, Pfizer, agree with Ban Ki-Moon to invest more in AIDS treatments & diagnostics for poor regions
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/389027

* So. Africa: Union says members shot while protesting lock-out by Ali Baba Foods
- Ali Baba's response
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/796713

* Shell trial in USA to begin in Feb 2009 - accused of complicity in human rights abuses against Ogoni in Nigeria
- Resource Centre summary profile of lawsuit
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/859611

* Niger Delta: Contradictions between abundance of oil and poverty - multimedia report produced by Open Society Institute, Revenue Watch
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/822222

* USA: Bloomberg facing class action lawsuit for alleged pregnancy discrimination
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/335187

* Somalia: Pirates' seizure of Ukrainian ship highlights foreign firms' dumping of hazardous waste from ships off the coast
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/667997

* Bulgaria: NGOs raise health & safety concerns over companies' proposal to build nuclear power plant in earthquake zone
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/595786

* Brazil: Business & govt. representatives discuss strategies for fighting child exploitation
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/726466

* Propper International settles allegations of labour violations at Puerto Rico factories
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/772461

* Tanzania: KPMG joins the Millennium Villages Project to help address extreme poverty
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/275222

* Commentary on John Ruggie's global leadership group - Robert Senser
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/140961

* Reminder: Intl. Seminar on Business & Human Rights, chaired by Mary Robinson, Paris, 4-5 Dec 2008
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/157529

* Job announcements at UN Principles for Responsible Investment: Assistant to Executive Director (London, deadline 3 Nov), Paid internship (New York, deadline 5 Nov)
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/825967

* Reminder: Job announcement: Development Director, Business & Human Rights Resource Centre, based in New York - deadline 3 Nov
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Aboutus/Openings

* Reminder: Job announcement: Francophone Africa Researcher, Business & Human Rights Resource Centre, based in Dakar - deadline 28 Oct
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Documents/FrAfricaResearcher

* Español: Perú: Pobladores de Reque protestan contra posible contaminación de planta de Rio Tinto - heridos en confrontación con la policía
- Incluye comentarios de gerente de Rio Tinto y video
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/168313

* Español: Mexicano Javier Vázquez alega que aerolínea Emirates rechazó su solicitud de trabajo debido a su edad
- Invitamos a Emirates a responder pero no lo ha hecho
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/606003

* Español: Argentina: Revocan sobreseimiento en caso de "esclavitud" de Bolivianos en talleres textiles clandestinos de Buenos Aires
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/602241

* Español: Corte de EE.UU. rechaza recurso de Chevron en litigio que mantiene con Ecuador por daños al medio ambiente y la salud
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/471497

* Español: ONU premió a 10 empresas por su contribución a los Objetivos de Desarrollo del Milenio
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/240911

* Español: Tribunal Permanente de los Pueblos sesiona sobre impactos negativos de empresas en América Central
- Incluye audio de entrevista a miembro de asociación de trabajadores afectados por pesticidas Nemagón y Fumazone
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/578257

* Español: Perú: Comuneros en Piura denuncian que Río Blanco financia espionaje de grupos opositores a su mina
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/574897

* Español: España: Ministro de Exteriores dice que hay que "exigir" a las empresas un "mayor" esfuerzo en la lucha contra la pobreza
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/157652

* Español: Empresas textiles europeas como Otto Group, Puma, Tchibo y Celio apoyan proyecto en África que promueve algodón "socialmente responsable"
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/845694

* Français : Des manifestants bloquent un train appartenant à Rusal pour protester contre la non redistribution des revenus; 12 blessés et 2 morts après l'intervention des forces de l'ordre
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/951914

* Français : Rapport d'une ONG sur la violation des droits des travailleurs palestiniens dans les colonies de Cisjordanie
- réponse de l'entreprise Royalife
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/486762

* Français : Côte d'Ivoire : Procès sur les déchets toxiques est suspendu, et puis reprend - certains avocats l'avaient bloqué pour protester l'absence de Trafigura
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/946010

* Français : Wal-Mart pousse le gouvernement ouzbek à mettre fin au travail des enfants dans les champs de coton
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/553277

* Français : Guide éco-citoyen des Amis de la Terre : « Environnement : comment choisir ma banque? »
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/825695

* Français : Entretien avec Ethix, société de conseil pour l'investissement responsable, concernant les entreprises dans les territoires occupés palestiniens & les violations de normes internationales
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/746437

* Français : Greenpeace proteste contre les constructeurs d'auto allemands, les accuse de « saboter » la législation européenne sur le CO2
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/178183

* Français : Rappel : Séminaire International 'Entreprises et Droits de l'Homme', présidé par Mary Robinson, Paris, 4 et 5 décembre 2008
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/572910

* Français : Rappel : Annonce d'emploi - Chercheur pour l'Afrique francophone, basé à Dakar, Centre de Ressources sur les Entreprises & les Droits de l'Homme - date limite 28 octobre
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Documents/FrAfricaResearcher

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Business & human rights: Weekly Update - October 8, 2008

From the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre:

Weekly Update: Business & Human Rights Resource Centre - 8 Oct 2008

CLICK THIS LINK FOR ALL TOP STORIES added past 7 days / Principales noticias / Articles de premier plan:
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Categories/Topstories?date=2008/10/08

Español: ver abajo - Français : voir ci-dessous

* UN Special Representative John Ruggie speech at Intl. Institute for Conflict Prevention & Resolution
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/554645

* Report finds Skype's Chinese venture TOM-Skype monitors messages for politically sensitive keywords
- includes comments by Skype, TOM Group
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/953166

* IFC, ILO, intl. buyers launch Better Work Vietnam programme to improve working conditions & competitiveness in apparel industry
- refers to Gap as one of the programme's supporters
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/546628

* Colombia: Excerpt of new book alleging bottling plants supplying Coca-Cola are linked with killings of trade unionists
- Coca-Cola response
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/423996

* UK Foreign Office writes to Lloyd's of London to express disapproval of company's involvement in Burma; NGO calls on Lloyd's to reveal how much profit is made from Burma
- Lloyd's statement re Burma (Aug 2008)
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/107069

* Ericsson promotes awareness of Millennium Development Goals in initiative supported by Mary Robinson, Jeffrey Sachs
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/222404

* West Africa: Ghanaian NGO says harmonised regional mining code will help govts. maximise benefits from mining revenues
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/690336

* Côte d'Ivoire: State prosecutors say Trafigura may face prosecution for toxic waste dump
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/467508

* Saudi Arabia: Human Rights Commission intervenes, as contracting company allegedly evicts Indian workers for complaining about working conditions
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/482713

* UNEP, Rainforest Alliance, UN World Tourism Organization, UN Foundation launch sustainable tourism criteria
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/619511

* Bloomberg special report: "China in Africa: Young Workers, Deadly Mines" - focuses on abuses in Dem. Rep of Congo
- CSR Asia commentary
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/833848

* India: Dow suspends construction of facility after locals complain it would pollute a sacred area
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/113558

* Summary of conference on private sector steps to combat sexual exploitation of children - organised by UNICEF, Canadian Govt. & NGOs
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/293160

* Goldcorp's Guatemala operations: On Common Ground consultants & Intl. Alert selected for human rights impact assessment - public website available
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/182511

* Seminar on Corporate Complicity in Human Rights Violations (Cambridge Univ., 1 Nov)
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/205576

* 2 job announcements for Publish What You Pay, London: Programme Officer, Information & Advocacy Officer (deadline 29 Oct for both)
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/754709

* Español: México: Denuncian que malas condiciones de seguridad para trabajadores de plataformas petroleras continúan a 1 año de accidente que dejó 23 muertos
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/117374

* Español: España: La Caixa y empresas extremeñas fomentan la integración laboral de personas en riesgo de exclusión social
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/764309

* Español: Guatemala: Recopilación de notas sobre problemas sociales y ambientales de los agrocombustibles
- respuesta de Ingenio Guadalupe (en inglés)
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/364509

* Español: Bolivia: Gerente de empresa Cidenbol encarcelado por trata de seres humanos - jueza que lo liberó previamente será demandada
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/309050

* Español: Argentina: FOCO realiza foro sobre trabajo decente - destaca que empresas no han alcanzado la igualdad de género
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/147216

* Español: México: Comisión Independiente de Derechos Humanos de Morelos pide respetar derechos laborales
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/974973

* Español: Guatemala: Se seleccionó a "On Common Ground" & "Intl. Alert" para realizar el estudio de impactos sobre derechos humanos de las operaciones de Goldcorp - se establece sitio web público
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/170521

* Français : Dix entreprises reçoivent les Prix mondiaux des affaires et du développement du PNUD : 3K&A, Diageo, Endesa, Haygrove, Olam Nigeria, Safaricom, Sistema Ser, Smart Communications, Syngenta, ZMQ Software
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/907865

* Français : Contrôle d'Internet en Chine : Skype accusé de collaboration - l'entreprise répond
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/283019

* Français : Indonésie : Craintes de représailles envers les tribus de Papouasie occidentale après une attaque sur la mine Grasberg
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/700972

* Français : L'Organisation mondiale du tourisme & le Pacte mondial de l'ONU lancent un nouveau cadre pour la responsabilité sociale des entreprises touristiques
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/861634

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Guatemala: photo essay on water tribunal's condemnation of Goldcorp

Please check out this photo essay, from our old friend James Rodgriguez, on a Guatemalan water tribunal's condemnation of Goldcorp. Here are some of his accompanying words:

The Latin American Water Tribunal (TLA, by its acronym in Spanish) carried out its 5th public hearing under the motto: ‘Hydraulic justice for indigenous lands and territories’. The trial took place in the city of Antigua Guatemala from September 8th to the 12th. Ten cases where water issues affected indigenous populations in the region were analyzed: one in Brazil, three in Mexico, one in El Salvador, three in Guatemala, and two in Panama.” (1)

“The Jury from the TLA pronounced verdicts on all ten hearings and served as mediator in four of them. This independent organ is made up by people who are leaders in their fields and have upheld a high ethical standard in their careers.” (2)
An ethic tribunal is a non-state entity with a legal character designed to resolve conflicts between different civil actors or institutions. Ethic tribunals are an emerging space for conflict analysis and resolution. Given their ethical nature, they restructure the idea of Law and serve as ideal platforms for seeking alternative solutions to environmental issues, among others. (3)

Here are their recommendations:

“1. To hold the Government of Guatemala responsible for not improving the situation in high-risk mining operations.” (6)

“2. To censure the Government of Guatemala for not making sure the following laws and international agreements are upheld: ILO Convention 169, the tenth principle from the Rio Convention, Articles 44 and 46 from the Republic of Guatemala’s Political Constitution of March 31, 1985, as well as the 1996 Peace Accords – specifically the Accord referring to Indigenous Peoples’ Identity and Rights.” (7)

“3. To censure the Government of Guatemala for not respecting Indigenous Peoples’ traditional justice systems.” (8)

“4. To hold Montana Exploradora de Guatemala Mining Company responsible for damages caused on the local environment and population of San Miguel Ixtahuacan and Sipacapa.” (9)

Business & human rights: Weekly Update - October 1, 2008

From the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre:Weekly Update: Business & Human Rights Resource Centre - 1 Oct 2008

CLICK THIS LINK FOR ALL TOP STORIES added past 7 days / Principales noticias / Articles de premier plan:
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Categories/Topstories?date=2008/10/01

Español: ver abajo - Français : voir ci-dessous

* Wal-Mart instructs suppliers to stop sourcing cotton from Uzbekistan, to push govt. to end forced child labour
- faith-based & social investors welcome move
- Financial Times article
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/352752

* Interview with John Ruggie - human rights impacts of the international investment regime
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/769357

* China: "No Way Out: A report on the human cost of China's economic miracle" - describes abuses during privatisation of state-owned enterprises
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/142575

* Ukraine: Police arrest director of pig farm, others on suspicion of forcing 100 homeless people to work; labourers fed same food as pigs
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/500345

* Clinton Global Initiative commitments: Procter & Gamble (safe water, maternal & neonatal tetanus, girls' education); Swiss Re (climate change & rural poverty); Compartamos, Deutsche Bank (microfinance); PepsiCo (access to water)
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/698404

* EarthRights identifies at least 69 Chinese firms involved in power & extractive projects in Burma
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/878103

* Danske Bank divests from 13 companies for activities including production of mines & cluster munitions; arms transfers to Sudan, Burma & Zimbabwe
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/273148

* Companies pledge US$100 million to help end malaria deaths by 2015
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/730537

* Thailand: Hoya Glass Disk Company allegedly clamps down on unions; workers claim to have been arbitrarily dismissed
- Hoya Corporation response
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/623408

* Intl. Commission of Jurists (ICJ) report on corporate complicity in major human rights abuses (further to our 17 Sep Update):
- ICJ responds to John Ruggie
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/507833
- Economist commentary on the report
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/629505

* China & Philippines: Report alleges serious labour rights abuses in factories supplying cellphone companies
- includes company responses
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/591777

* Angola: Report says mining companies' arbitrary seizure & destruction of farmlands causing widespread hunger & deepening poverty
- we invited Endiama, ITM Mining, Lazare Kaplan to respond, but they have not done so
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/645748

* US court rules Côte d'Ivoire plantation workers allegedly harmed by pesticides can't sue manufacturing/distribution firms in US
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/167015

* Dow, UNEP & Chinese Govt. in partnership to promote chemical safety
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/794270

* ActionAid letter to UN Special Representative John Ruggie regarding renewal of his mandate
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/425377

* John Ruggie welcomes submission by 5 NGOs criticizing the human rights framework of the IFC's performance standards & the Equator Principles
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/119238

* Job announcement, South African Human Rights Commission: Coordinator, Human Rights & Business Programme (deadline 3 Oct)
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/198295

* Job announcement, Interfaith Center on Corp. Responsibility: Food Safety & Sustainability Campaign Coordinator (New York, deadline 24 Oct)
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/661508

* Español: Argentina: Demanda contra editorial Atlántida y revista "Para Ti" por complicidad con oficiales de la dictadura militar
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/198831

* Español: Ecuador: Asociación de derechos humanos demanda a compañías bananeras en EE.UU. por uso de fungicida que ha causado "graves problemas de salud"
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/922402

* Español: Programa "ayudar comerciando" de Body Shop trabaja con comunidades desfavorecidas
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/888463

* Español: España: Fiscal pide 21 años a 6 acusados, 3 de la firma Grefacsa, por "homicidio imprudente" de 3 trabajadores
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/934876

* Español: Movimientos sociales se reunieron en el "Foro Andino Frente a la Gran Minería" en Colombia, 26-27 septiembre - emiten declaración final
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/627614

* Español: Iberdrola es la mejor eléctrica del mundo en combatir el cambio climático, según el Climate Leadership Index
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/193430

* Español: Wal-Mart ordena a sus proveedores no comprar algodón uzbeko hasta que el gobierno erradique el trabajo infantil forzado
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/532961

* Español: Conferencia en Guatemala: "Defendiendo Nuestro Territorio y Protegiéndonos ante la Criminalización" tratará de minería, biocombustibles y represas - 10 de octubre
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/840468

* Español: México: Philip Morris México entrega 100 mil dólares a damnificados de inundaciones en Tabasco
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/747174

* Français : Des millions d'"emplois verts" anticipés, mais beaucoup risquent d'être "rebutants & dangereux", selon un report du PNUE
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/843789

* Français : Soutenus par des ONG, Boeing, Honeywell, Air France KLM, Air New Zealand, All Nippon, SAS, Cargolux, Gulf Air, JAL, Virgin Atlantic se regroupent pour développer des biocarburants qui profitent aux communautés locales et ne concurrencent pas les ressources alimentaires ou en eau douce
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/708945

* Français : USA : Nestlé revoit son projet d'usine en Californie suite à l'opposition de citoyens soucieux de l'environnement
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/305850

* Français : Côte d'ivoire : Le procès des déchets toxiques du Probo Koala est ouvert - Trafigura absent
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/128386

* Français : Inde : Abbott, Bristol Myers-Squibb, Gilead resistent à la diffusion de brevets pour de nouveaux traitements anti-sida
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/453295

* Français : Rép. Dém. du Congo: Des managers d'entreprises s'engagent dans la lutte contre le VIH/Sida au milieu de travail
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/261757

ARCHIVE of past Weekly Updates / ARCHIVO de actualizaciones pasadas / ARCHIVE des Actualités hebdomadaires précédentes:
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Aboutus/WeeklyUpdatesarchive

Amnesty International urgent action: death threats in Colombia

From the AI Canada website:

On 18 September, the Oil Workers’ Trade Union (Unión Sindical Obrera de la Industria del Petróleo, USO) received a death threat via e-mail from a paramilitary group called The Carlos Castaño is Still Alive Eagles, (Águilas Carlos Castaño Vive, CCV). The death threat warned, “We are reminding you about the death sentences for those son of a bitch guerrillas who still continue screwing around” (les recuerda las sentencias de muerte a los querilleros (sic.) HP que aun continuan jodiendo). The email goes on to accuse the six men of making up the political wing of the National Liberation Army (Ejército de Liberación Nacional, ELN). It also informs them that they will “all fall little by little which they deserve for being guerrillas” (todos caeran poco a poco comoe se lo merecen por querilleros (sic.)). In addition to the four members of USO, Domingo Tovar from the Trade Union Congress (Central Unitaria de Trabajadores, CUT) was threatened and the CUT was labelled “the birthplace of terrorists” (cuna de terroristas). Lenin Fernández, a student leader in the Department of Cesar was also “sentenced to death” (sentenciado a muerte). On 9 September, two funeral wreaths were sent to USO’s offices in Cartagena, which is located on the Northern coast of Colombia in the Department of Bolívar. The wreaths were sent with messages of condolence for Rodolfo Vecino Acevedo who was in the city of Cartagena at the time. Sometime later, two different funeral parlours telephoned USO’s offices asking for their address because they had more funeral wreaths to send, supposedly at the request of an unidentified female caller. In December 2007, a similar funeral wreath and ‘message of condolence’ naming Rodolfo Vecino Acevedo had been sent to USO’s offices in Barrancamermeja, Department of Santander. On 1 September, the offices of USO in Cartagena received a telephone call asking for Rodolfo Vecino Acevedo and Rafael Cabarcas. The caller warned that, “they knew that this pair of sons of bitches were in the city and they wanted to kill them” (que si sabían que estaban en esa ciudad el par de hijos de putas esos y que tenían ganas de matarlos). Violence against trade unionists and other critics of government policy is of particular concern in Canada at the moment. This is because Canada recently negotiated a free trade agreement with Colombia, which awaits ratification and implementation amidst concerns over the potential human rights impacts (for more on this issue, click here).

RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible, in Spanish or your own language: [click here for a brief guide to help you write your letter]: urging the authorities to guarantee the safety of Rodolfo Vecino Acevedo, Rafael Cabarcas, Nelsón Berrio, Hernando Hernández and other members of USO as well as Domingo Tovar and Lenin Fernández, using all measures deemed appropriate by those at risk; calling on the authorities to order a full and impartial investigation into the threats, the results of which should be made public and those responsible brought to justice; calling for decisive action to confront and dismantle paramilitary groups and investigate and break their links with the security forces, in line with repeated UN recommendations; calling on the authorities to produce policy and plans, in conjunction with human rights defenders, to guarantee their safety according to the principles of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights and Responsibilities of Individuals, Groups and Institutions to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, and to make these plans public.

PLEASE SEND AN APPEAL MESSAGE TO: Señor Presidente Álvaro Uribe Vélez Presidente de la República Palacio de Nariño, Carrera 8 No.7-2 Bogotá, Colombia Fax: 011 57 1 337 5890 Salutation: Dear President Uribe / Excmo. Sr. Presidente Uribe Attorney General: Dr. Mario Germán Iguarán Arana Fiscal General de la Nación, Fiscalía General de la Nación Diagonal 22B (Av. Luis Carlos Galán No. 52-01) Bloque C, Piso 4 Bogotá, Colombia Email: mario.iguaran@fiscalia.gov.co Fax: 011 57 1 570 2000 (a message in Spanish will ask you to enter extension 2017) Salutation: Dear Mr Iguarán / Estimado Sr. Fiscal PLEASE SEND A COPY OF YOUR MESSAGE TO: His Excellency Jaime Giron Duarte, Ambassador for Colombia 360 Albert Street, Suite 1002 Ottawa, Ontario K1R 7X7 Email: embajada@embajadacolombia.ca Fax: 1 613 230-4416 Hon. David Emerson, Minister of Foreign Affairs House of Commons Ottawa ON K1A 0A6 Email: Emerson.D@parl.gc.ca Fax: 1 613 943-0219 MAKE SURE YOU ALSO SIGN OUR E-PETITION ON BEHALF OF TRADE UNIONISTS AT RISK IN COLOMBIA.

BACKGROUND During Colombia’s 40-year armed conflict, human rights organizations, trade unions and other social organizations have often been labelled as guerrilla collaborators or supporters by the security forces and paramilitaries. As a result they often suffer threats, enforced disappearance or killings. Guerrilla groups have also threatened or killed human rights defenders they consider to be siding with the enemy. On 18 June, USO and five other organizations working in Barrancabermeja received a written death threat signed by the paramilitary group, the United Black Eagles of Colombia (Águilas Negras Unidas de Colombia). After participating in the May Day marches on 1 May, Rodolfo Vecino Acevedo and Rafael Cabarcas were followed by unknown men to the place where they were staying. On 31 August 2007, Rodolfo Vecino Acevedo was the victim of a death threat sent via e-mail by a paramilitary group called The United Black Eagles of Colombia (Águilas Negras Unidas de Colombia) which warned him that he would “leave behind a widow and four children” (vas a dejar a una viuda y cuatro hijos). He had previously received threats from the paramilitary group, the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia, AUC) in 2005. In November 2006 the bullet-proof car he normally used was shot at by gunmen travelling on two motorcycles. Rodolfo Vecino’s wife, acquaintance and bodyguard, who were in the car at the time, managed to escape unharmed. The Inter-American Court of Human Rights of the Organization of American States has called on the Colombian authorities to take measures to guarantee the safety of Rodolfo Vecino and his family. Despite this, Rodolfo Vecino Acevedo and other members of USO continue to be at risk.